Iran is taking big steps forward in its efforts to develop motor sport, and has ambitions to host, and take part in, Middle East events, said a top official.

The country’s plans to advance its motor sport infrastructure were outlined by Dr. Hamidreza Mehrali, president of the Motorcycle and Automobile Federation of Islamic Republic of Iran (Mafiri), when he met his UAE counterpart, Dr Mohammed Ben Sulayem, in Dubai earlier this week.

One of the outcomes of the meeting is that the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) will send a specialist training team to Tehran next January.

The aim is to train Mafiri officials and volunteers to organise events to international standards laid down by the FIA, motor sport’s world governing body.

During the meeting Mehrali was also briefed about ATCUAE president Dr Sulayem’s work as the chairman of the FIA’s newly established Motor Sport Development Task Force. Mehrali was asked for his inputs as Dr Sulayem looks to build a ten-year plan for the sport’s global development.

“Dr. Mehrali briefed me on progress being made with the development of Iranian motorsport, including the construction of a new race track near Tehran, and the nurturing of young driving talent, and they are doing some great work,” said Dr Sulayem.

“They are ambitious, and want to stage international events attracting competitors from around the region, and also to send competitors to take part in events in other parts of the Middle East.”

Iran is hoping to find a place in the FIA Middle East Rally Championship in the near future, and the instruction given by the ATCUAE’s training and education arm, the Motorsport Knowledge Institute, will be an important step towards achieving that goal.

The training delivered in Tehran will cover all aspects of the motor sport event organisation, placing a major emphasis on competitor and spectator safety.

The ATCUAE, one of five national motor sport authorities which delivers training on behalf of the FIA, previously conducted a training session in Iran in August 2012. – TradeArabia News Service